Apple Pie Contest
I’m going to an apple pie contest today in my town. I’m not entering it. I’m not judging. I’ve been asked to present the award to the three winners. What better thing to do on the Fourth of July. Right? So yesterday I was thinking about the first pie contest I entered, and the first contest I judged, and I began to look through old archived photos on my computer. It’s a good thing to do that every once in a while…and such a walk down memory lane. I also was horrified to see that there were over 100,000 files inside of the “Trash” on my computer! Don’t need that stuff anymore. I have to say that it was kinda empowering to push the “Delete” button and lighten up my load. Yes, I have backups if necessary. 😉
BUT…while I was going through all of this, I found two pages from a cookbook that had belonged to the mother of my oldest and dearest friend, and since there is an apple pie recipe in it, I’m sharing it with you. It has an interesting technique of placing a custard cup upside down in a buttered casserole and placing the fruit, sweetener, and seasonings around it. No bottom crust is used but a top crust is.
I had already read and written about the cup technique in a book written by John MacPherson, who came to America in 1906 from London. He was called “The Mystery Chef”, had a radio show, and in his book from 1934 used the inverted tea cup to draw up the juices in his apple pie. Hmmmm….I wonder if that’s what makes it an English Apple Pie. There are a few other pie recipes on these pages. I haven’t tried any of them, but they were special to someone once and maybe they will become special to you, too.
One last thing…as Simran Sethi brings to our attention, Apple Pie is a very Interdependent Pie of which we are all a part. Please enjoy these words that she wrote for NPR a year ago.
Happy Fourth and Happy Pie!
I remember watching my mom make apple pie for my dad. His favorite. They were married for over fifty years. Her crusts were the best, so tender and flaky. Her pies were always the best holiday desserts.
What a wonderful recipe!!! I will give it a go one day soon.
Hi Kate,
I found your website last week while searching the web to find how to clean my pastry cloth… i ordered your book and love your friendly easy way of writing… just like a letter to a dear friend…. your sense of humor is delightful…
I tried my hand following your directions making pie crust… it was okay but I think I was a little “tense’ so looking forward to my next attempt having gotten my “hands’ wet it should go better… the pie was Strawberry with a cream cheese layer on the bottom … from my Betty Crocker cookbook… it was good but my crust was not as flaky as it should have been… I think I needed more water….
I am enjoying mastering my pie making skills…and plan another Strawberry pie to serve at my Card club I am hosting next Monday…
Blessings!
Darlene
Happy 4th, Kate….thanks for the apple pie recipe and the great history lesson on pies. Have fun at the contest today!
Oh….and thanks for the salad dressing recipe!
My Father was an produce broker specializing in apples-which meant he would bring home “lugs” of the best apples one could find. He delivered them to my grandmother, who would prepare 52 apple pies-one for each week.
We would freeze them and enjoy them all year. And they were divine.
I never learned how to make her apple pie-but I am sure having fun trying.
Cheers to all bakers today!